Last Thursday the Irish Rugby Football Union announced Easterby would replace John Plumtree in Joe Schmidt's backroom staff and O'Driscoll has welcomed the news. He played alongside Easterby at Ireland and believes he will be the perfect fit in Ireland's backroom staff.

"I think it's a great signing. I think it's a very smart move from Joe," O'Driscoll told the Irish Independent. "Simon was always a very smart player. He knew shortcuts in the game, he was someone who had a huge engine and demanded a lot of those around him.

"I think he'll just bring his type of game into what he expects from his forward pack. He's a big man for detail, that fits well with Joe Schmidt, Paul O'Connell and a lot of the forward pack."